Building construction and method of erection



Aug. 26, 1969 E. SVENSSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Sept. '7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Aug. 26, 1969 E. SVENSSON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Sept. 7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

FIG.4

INVENTOR Wmaf Aug. 26, 1969- SVENSSON. 3,462,894

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Sept. 7 1965 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 if FIG.5

INVENTOR WSerrkr Q z- 1969 v a. SVENSSON 3,462,894

' BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF ERECTION Filed Sept. 7, 1965 I 4 sheets-sheet 4 FIG.7

INVENTOR 3,462,894 BUILDWG CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF ERECTION Einar Svensson, 2248 NW. 1% Place, Seattle, Wash. 98177 Filed Sept. 7, 1%5, Ser. No. 485,156 Int. Cl. E041) 7/02; EtMg 21/14; Etl ih 1/02 US. CI. 5290 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DICLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in the use of cantilever building construction in houses. The house has upwardly directed and outwardly inclined walls so as to have additional space at shoulder level. The house has two longitudinal roof girders. These roof girders carry approximately 85% of the roof load. This load is transmitted through posts to the foundation.

From having designed and worked in the building of houses I have made this invention. This invention comprises utilizing the cantilever system of support for both the floor and the roof in conjunction with an inclined wall to obtain maximum space in buildings and, incidentally, an improvement in the appearance of such building. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to apply cantilever building construction for houses; to provide a house which may be erected by a simple erection procedure; to provide a house which, relative to other houses, has a saving of both material and labor; to provide a house which is adaptable to angles of different slope; to provide a house which is adaptable to a continuous foundation or an intermittent post foundation; to provide a house having outwardly inclined Walls to realize additional space at shoulder level; to provide a house of low-cost construction; to provide a house having a roof which may carry a heavy snow load; to provide a house which can be readily constructed from prefabricated parts; to provide a house wherein the roof can be constructed in such manner as to save many man hours of labor and money; and, to provide a house having a basic plan which can be expanded to various floor areas.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention will be more particularly brought forth upon reference to the accompanying drawings, the detailed specification of the invention, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view looking at two types of foundations for the house;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking at another type of foundation for the house;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view looking at the house during construction and, in particular, at the roof and roof rafters in a substantially horizontal position for ease of applying the roofing material, such as shakes;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the house in construction and illustrating the joists and the rafters;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view looking at the house and illustrates the support members underneath the joists, said joists being in a cantilever relationship with said support members, the inclined walls and the roof;

FIG. 6 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the house and illustrates the joists in a cantilever relationship with the support members, the inclined walls, and the roof girders; and,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view inside the house looking at the manner of finishing off the inside of the house for a loft area, a kitchen, and bedroom, and further illustrates the inclined walls.

nite States Patent 3,462,394 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 In FIG. 1 there is illustrated two types of foundations which may be used for supporting the house. There is a continuous concrete foundation 10 having continuous footing in the form of side walls 12 and an integral end wall 14. On top of the side walls 12 and end wall 14 are rods or pipes 16. The rods or pipes 16 are for anchoring sills or girders. The side walls 12 may be considered to be spaced apart longitudinal support members. These footings rest on the earth 18. Also, there are individual concrete posts 26 having pipes or rods 22 projecting upwardly. These posts are in line with the side walls 12 and support the girders. Again, the posts 26 rest on the earth 18.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated another type of support. This type of support comprise upright posts 24 which may be laminated wood posts comprising three 2 X 4s or three 2 X 6's. On the upper end of the posts 24 are laminated girders 26. Laminated girders 26 may be three 2 X 8s or 2 X 10s or 2 X 12s depending upon the carrying requirements. The posts 24 and the girders 26 may be joined by nails or bolts 28. The lower end of the posts 24 may rest on a rock or a concrete footing.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a front elevational view of a house in the early stage of construction. The house rests on laminated posts 24. These posts 24 rest on a concrete footing 30. On the upper end of line of posts 24 there is positioned a laminated girder 26. It is seen in FIG. 3 that there are two spaced apart laminated girders 26 and which girders run longitudinally of the house. These girders are support members for the house. On the girders 26 are lateral spaced apart joists 32. The joists 32 may be considered to be at right angles to the girders 26 and run laterally of the house. It is seen that the joists have ends 34 which overhang the girders 26. In other words, the joists 32 are in a cantilever relationship with the girder 26.

In FIG. 3 is is seen that there are two spaced apart upright posts 36. One of these posts on the left rests directly on the girder 26 and the other post on the right rests directly on the girder 26. Actually, see FIG. 4, it is seen that there are four upright posts for the house. Two of these posts 36 are in a spaced apart relation at the front wall of the house and two of these posts 36 are in a spaced apart relation at the rear wall of the house. On top of these posts are roof girders 38. There is a roof girder 38 on the two left posts 36 and there is a roof girder 38 on the two right posts 36. These two roof girders 38 may be considered to be in spaced apart relationship and to run longitudinally of the house. Actually, the two roof girders 38 overlie the two respective support girders 26.

On the end of the joists 34 are side boards or side members 40. After the joists 34, the laminated posts 36 and the roof girders 38 have been positioned then it is appropriate to put on the snbfloor 42. Then, the rafters may be positioned on the roof girders 38. As is seen in FIG. 3 there are tie members 44 tying together the posts 36. On the left post 36 and left roof girder 38 there are positioned rafters 46. These rafters 46 have a notch 48 for fitting with the roof girder 38. The tie member 50 connects the rafters 46 to the laminated posts 36. On the open end of the rafters 46 is a side member or side board 52. On the inside edge of the rafters 46 is a lower ridge member 54. In FIG. 3 it is seen that the rafters 46 may be considered to be in a substantially horizontal position.

Also, in FIG. 3 it is seen that on the right laminated post 36 and the right roof girder 38 there are rafters 54.

In the rafters 54- there is a notch 56 for fitting with the right roof girder 38. It is seen that on the free end of the rafters 54 that there is a side board 58. On the inner end of the rafters 54 there is an upper ridge member 60. In FIG. 3 it is seen that the rafters 54 make an angle with the horizontal of slightly less than 20. Of course, it is to be realized that the rafters 46 may be placed at an angle substantially equal to that of the rafters 54 and that the rafters 54 may be placed in a substantially horizontal position. The reason for placing the rafters 46 and 54 in the indicated position is that it is easier to roof the rafters. A subroof 62 is applied to the rafters 46 and 54. The subroof 62 may be of an exterior grade plywood. On the subroof 62 there may be attached one of the normally available roofing materials such as rolled asphalt roofing or asphalt shingles or tile or cedar shingles or shakes. The houses I have built or have had constructed have had cedar shakes 64. After the roofing material has been applied then the two halves of the roof may be rotated so that the upper ridge member 60 is positioned about the lower ridge member 55 and the notches in the rafter 48 rest on the left roof girder 38 and the notches 56 in the rafter 54 rest on the right roof girder 38. The ridge members and the roof members may be nailed together. In FIG. it is seen that there are tie members 66 connecting with the rafters 46 and 54 and which assist in positioning the roof. By being able to apply cedar shakes to the roof, while in a substantially horizontal position or at only a slight angle with the horizontal, there is considerable saving in the man days required to build a house. On a house having approximately 600 square feet of living area there is an approximate saving of two and one-half (2 /2) man days while on a larger house having approximately 1200 square feet of living area there is a saving of approximately five (5) man days in the roofing of the house as compared with first putting the roof in position whereby the roof is at an angle of approximately 40 to 45 with the horizontal and then applying the cedar shakes. Naturally, such a saving in the man days required for roofing is considerable and decreases the cost of the house.

Side walls 70 may be constructed in a horizontal position, prior to the positioning of the roof in its final position. The side walls 70 comprise studs 72, a lower plate 74 and an upper plate 76. After the side walls have been constructed then they may be rotated and elevated to their final position, see FIG. 5, and the lower plate '74 and the studs 72 nailed into position. The side wall '70 is at an angle of approximately 68 with the horizontal, in a range of 6570, and is directed outwardly from the main body of the house. After the lower part of the side wall 70 has been nailed in position then the roof members may be rotated and the roof members attached to the upper plate 76 and the studs 72. The interior of the walls 70 may be finished at 78.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated the end construction of the house or a doorway or window and the like. It is seen that there is spaced inwardly of the two laminated posts 36 two upright studs 80. Across the top of the studs 80 and running between the two posts 36 is a header 82. Between each stud 80 and a respective post 36 there is a horizontal brace 84. A king post 86 runs from the middle of the header 82 to the peak of the roof.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a perspective view of the interior of the house. In this view there is seen the outwardly sloping walls, the roof girders and the rafters. Also, there is illustrated the high unobstructed ceiling for the living and dining area, the partitioning of the rest of the house for kitchen, bedroom, lavatory facilities, and a loft space. The loft space 90, stair steps 92 leads upwardly to the loft area 90. The floor of the loft area 90 may comprise cross tie members 94. These are decorative upright members 96 which connect with the stairway and the upper tie member 66.

It is seen along the right side wall that there are- 4 counters 98 and the countertop 100. Of course, there may be placed appliances in this area, referred to as the kitchen area, for general housekeeping purposes. Then there are doorways 102 and 104 which may lead to bedrooms.

From the foregoing it is seen that I have presented a house based on the cantilever principle and having a roof which may be constructed in the substantially horizontal position. By utilizing the maximum cantilever length of the floor beams additional space at the shoulder level is obtained in this house by inclining the walls outwardly. The standing height of a person is provided along the floor line of the house but the actual area at the shoulder level of the house is greater than at the floor line. In regard to the load carrying capacity of the roof, it is approximately 100 pounds per square foot. Such a load carrying capacity for snow and the like is considerable. This is realized by tilting the roof to an angle in the range of 4050, with the horizontal, and attaching the roof rafters to a pair of ridge members and providing ties between the roof rafters. Approximately of the snow and structural load is carried by the roof girders 38 and is transmitted through the laminated posts 36 to the support girders 26 and the upright posts 24 or the concrete posts 20 or the continuous footing 12 and 14. The wall thrust, which is the determining factor in the size of the floor beams, is directed inwardly against the floor beams. This wall thrust is the same as for a vertical wall which does not give the additional area at the shoulder height of a person. In the living area of the house the additional space along the side provides a natural back support for seating arrangements and therefore seats with back cushions may be built against the wall. Also, the outwardly inclined walls provide additional space in the kitchen and there may be built in counters with the storage space below. These counters take up very little floor area and yet provide a storage area. Similarly, in the bedroom area a saving of floor area is obtained by using the inclined added wall space for wardrobes. Another feature of my house is that this type of structural system, which may be used with post and pier foundation, is adaptable to any type of slope without any or only minor extra costs.

Having presented my invention, what I claim is:

1. A house, said house comprising:

(a) two spaced apart support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart joists carried by said spaced apart support members;

(c) said joists being across said support members;

(d) said joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two support members so that the joists are in a cantilever relationship with the support members;

(e) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above and vertically aligned with each support member land in a bearing relationship with the support mem- (f) an outwardly inclined side wall on each side of the o1sts;

(g) a ro0f girder positioned on said two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a support member;

(h) a set of rafters on each side of the house; and,

(i) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationship with a respective roof girder.

2. A house, said house comprising:

(a) two spaced apart support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart joists carried by said spaced apart support members;

(c) said joists being across said support members;

(d) said joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two support members;

(e) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(f) a roof girder positioned on said two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a support member;

(g) a side wall each side of the joists;

(h) said wall being inclined outwardly to make an outer angle in the range of 6570 with the joists;

(i) a set of rafters on each side of the house; and,

(j) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationship with a respective roof girder.

3. A house, said house comprising:

(a) two spaced apart support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart joists carried by said spaced apart support members;

(c) said joists being across said support members;

(d) said joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two support members;

(e) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(f) a roof girder positioned on said two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a support member;

(g) a side wall on each side of the joists;

(h) said wall being inclined outwardly to make an outer angle in the range of 6570 with the joists;

(i) a set of rafters on each side of the house;

(j) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationship with a respective roof girder;

(k) said rafters being at an angle of about 40-50 with the joists;

(1) tie members tying together the roof rafters in opposite sets of roof rafters; and,

(m) the upper end of one set of roof rafters joining with an upper ridge member and the upper end of the other set of roof rafters joining with a lower ridge member so that in the erected state the two ridge members are in an overlapping relationship.

4. A house, said house comprising:

(a) two spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart lateral joists carried by said spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(0) said lateral joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two longitudinal support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two support members and said joists are of a cantilever construction;

(d) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above and vertically aligned with each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) a longitudinal roof girder positioned on each two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a longitudinal support member;

(f) an outwardly inclined longitudinal side wall on each side of the joists and attached to the joists near the end of the joists;

(g) a set of rafters on each side of the house; and

(h) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationship with a respective longitudinal roof girder.

5. A house, said house comprising:

(a) two spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart lateral joists carried by said spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(c) said lateral joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two longitudinal support members so that the two ends of a joists are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two support members;

((1) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) a longitudinal roof girder positioned on each two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a longitudinal support member;

(f) a longitudinal side wall on each side of the joists and attached to the joists near the end of the joists;

(g) said wall being inclined outwardly to make an outer angle in the range of 65-70 with the joists;

(h) a set of rafters on each side of the house;

(i) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationship with a respective longitudinal r-oof girder;

(j) said rafters being at an angle of about 40-50 with the joists; and

(k) the members typing together the roof rafters in opposite sets of roof rafters.

6. A house, said house comprising (a) two spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(b) a multiplicity of spaced apart lateral joists carried by said spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(c) said lateral joists beings of a length greater than the distance between said two longitudinal support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two support members;

(d) two spaced apart upright posts positioned above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) a longitudinal roof girder positioned on each two spaced apart upright posts so as to be above and aligned with a longtiudinal support member;

(f) a longitudinal side wall on each side of the joists and attached to the joists near the end of the joists;

(g) said wall being inclined outwardly to make an outer angle in the range of 6570 with the joists;

(h) a set of rafters on each side of the house;

(i) each set of rafters connecting with a respective side wall and being in bearing relationhip with a respective longitudinal roof girder;

(j) said rafters being at an angle of about 40-50 with the joists;

(k) tie members tying together the roof rafters in opposite sets of roof rafters; and,

(l) the upper end of one set of roof rafters joining with an upper ridge member and the upper end of the other set of roof rafters joining with a lower ridge member so that in the erected state the two ridge members are in an overlapping relationship.

7. A method for constructing a house, said method comprising:

(a) positioning two spaced apart support members;

(b) positioning a multiplicity of spaced apart joists on said support members;

(c) said joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two support members so that the joists are in a cantilever relationship with the support members;

(d) positioning two spaced apart upright posts above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) positioning a roof girder on the two spaced apart upright posts;

(f) positioning a first set of rafters on one of the roof girders in a substantially horizontal position;

(g) positioning a second set of rafters on the other one of said roof girders at an angle ranging from about horizontal to about 20 from the horizontal;

(h) roofing said first set and said second set of rafters while in the substantially horizontal position; and,

(i) rotating said roof rafters around a respective roof girder so that the roofed rafters form a roof.

8. A method for constructing a housing, said method comprising:

(a) positioning two spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(b) positioning a multiplicity of spaced apart lateral joists on said longitudinal support members;

(c) said lateral joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two longitudinal support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantilever relationship with respect to the two sup port members;

(d) positioning two spaced apart upright posts above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) positioning a longitudinal roof girder on the two spaced apart upright posts;

(f) positioning a first set of rafters on one of the roof girders in a substantially horizontal position and at the inner side edge of the rafter placing a lower ridge member;

(g) positioning a second set of rafters on the other one of said roof girders at an angle ranging from about horizontal and at inner side edge of the rafter placing an upper ridge member;

(h) roofing said first set and said second set of rafters while in the substantially horizontal position;

(i) rotating a roofed set of rafters around a respective roof girder so that the upper ridge member and the lower ridge member of the two sets of roofed rafters are in an overlapping relationship; and,

(j) connecting side walls to the joists and the rafters.

9. A method for constructing a house, said method comprising:

(a) positioning two spaced apart longitudinal support members;

(b) positioning a multiplicity of spaced apart lateral joists on said longitudinal support members;

() said lateral joists being of a length greater than the distance between said two longitudinal support members so that the two ends of a joist are in a cantiliver relationship with respect to the two support members;

(d) positioning two spaced apart upright posts above each support member and in a bearing relationship with the support member;

(e) positioning a longitudinal roof girder on the two spaced apart upright posts;

(f) positioning a longitudinal side wall on each side of the joists and attached to the joists near the end of the joists;

(g) said wall being inclined outwardly to make an outer angle in the range of -70 with the joists;

(h) positioning a set of rafters on each side of the house;

(i) positioning each set of rafters with a respective side wall and in bearing relationship with a respective longitudinal roof girder;

(j) positioning said rafters at an angle of about 4050 with the joists; and,

(k) positioning tie members between roof rafters in opposite sets of roof rafters.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,330 8/1949 Kump 52745 X 2,482,918 9/1949 Kump 52745 X 3,156,018 11/1964 Slayter 52-90 X 3,184,012 5/1965 Fujisbirna 5290 3,193,973 7/1965 Lee 5290 X 3,214,872 11/1965 Vogelgesang 52-90 X 3,378,966 4/1968 Lindal 5290 FOREIGN PATENTS 604,463 8/1960 Canada. 679,137 9/ 1952 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

